CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for car washes in Portland, ME
Car washes in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area: 37 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 3-person team.
- Establishments
- 37CBP 2023
- Employees
- 127mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.5U.S. 5.8
- Rank
- 103rd of 670areas by count
How many car washes are in Portland, ME?
There were 37 car washes in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 811192, Car Washes). Together they reported 127 mid-March employees and $5,651,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 103rd of the 670 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 572,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 6.5 car washes per 100,000 people, 11.2% above the national rate of 5.8. Establishments average 3.4 employees, 60.6% below the U.S. average of 8.7. Payroll per employee comes to $44,496, 51.5% above the national $29,378.
| Measure | Portland, ME | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 37 | 68 | 19,807 |
| Mid-March employees | 127 | 224 (moderate noise) | 172,644 |
| Annual payroll | $5,651,000 | $8,485,000 | $5,071,953,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.4 | 3.3 | 8.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $44,496 | $37,879 | $29,378 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.5 | 4.8 | 5.8 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at car washes in Portland, ME
Of the car washes in Portland, ME that had employees in March 2023, 80.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 52.3%). 100.0% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 28 | 80.0% | 52.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 7 | 20.0% | 18.5% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 18.8% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 8.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.8% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a car wash in Portland, ME has to catch
Car washes take calls about hours, memberships and detailing appointments. Membership questions and billing issues are often handled by phone. That holds for car washes in Portland, ME as much as anywhere.
Calls a car wash in Portland, ME might handle in a typical week include:
- The car wash calls a member about a card update.
- A customer calls to book detailing.
- A customer calls about a membership charge.
Calls after closing time
After-hours calls are usually about hours or memberships.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for car washes in Portland, ME
The average car wash in Portland, ME has 3.4 employees, so a 3-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 3 users would run $90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $74.85 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 3 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $57.00 | $684.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $69.00 | $828.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $74.85 | $898.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $81.00 | $972.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $90.00 | $1,080.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Local area codes for car washes in Portland, ME
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 207 (269 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 207 | 269 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
Setting up Callata for a car wash in Portland, ME
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Portland, ME, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many car washes are there in Portland, ME?
Census County Business Patterns counted 37 car washes in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area in 2023. They employed 127 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 3-person car wash?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 3 users cost $90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $74.85 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a car wash in Portland, ME use?
Area code 207 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a car wash?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.